TransUnion report, the impact of your credit score on the true cost of your mortgage

Personally I think it is just as much an issue of lack of education on the part of the clients Lenders as it is lack of knowledge on the part of the respondents. Regardless the "price matrix" as a result of your Credit Score can cost the YOU thousands of dollars in extra interest charges. Here is the Canada News Wire release:

TORONTO, July 18 /CNW/ -- Do Canadians really know how much a mortgage will cost them? With the summer home buying season now in full swing, TransUnion recently commissioned GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media to survey consumer perceptions and attitudes about mortgages. The findings indicate that 45 per cent of Canadians underestimate the lifetime cost of a mortgage.

Only one-fifth of respondents correctly answered that due to interest payments, the average Canadian homeowner will ultimately pay in the range of 151 to 200 per cent of the original loan amount over the course of a 25-year mortgage.

"By the end of a 25-year term, if you a have a traditional fixed-rate mortgage at 6.43 per cent, you'll actually pay close to $200,000 on top of your $200,000 mortgage, just in interest," says Tom Reid, director, Consumer Solutions at TransUnion.ca. "That's a significant cost that could be reduced by tens of thousands of dollars if you have a higher credit score in hand when you go to secure your home loan."

Perceptions Similar across Demographics, with Education Proving the Exception

Surprisingly, home ownership makes no difference for mortgage loan knowledge. Only one in five home owners (20 per cent) gave the correct answer for true mortgage costs, identical to the 20 per cent among those who rent or live at the home of their parents. Similarly, 19 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women correctly identified the 151-200 per cent figure.

However, education level does seem to make a significant difference. Among those who completed no more than grade school, just 5 per cent chose the correct response, rising to 15 per cent among those who completed high school and to 25 per cent among those with at least some college education. Still, even among the most educated Canadians, just one in four gave the correct response.

"Reviewing your credit profile and score frequently and taking steps to maintain or improve your credit standing puts you in the driver's seat when shopping for a loan," adds Reid. "All else being equal, the higher your credit score, the stronger your position to negotiate lower mortgage or home equity rates. That's a fact you can bank on."

For more information on your credit score and how it will impact your mortgage contact:

Ontario Mortgage Team
Mortgage Intelligence Inc.
Leading the way to a better mortgage

web: www.OntarioMortgageTeam.com